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T.. BELAIR. COMMERCIAL TRAVEL'ER'S DISPLAY TRUNK.

VA'EPLICAHON mm JULY 15.19 9.

, Patented June 7, 1921.

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COMMERClAL TRAVELERS DISPLAY TRUNK.

APPLICAHON FILED JULY I5. 1919- Patented June 7, 1921,

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- UNITED STATES: PATENT "OFFICE,

THOMAS BELAER, or MonrRnAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

[COMMERCIAL relive-min s DISPLAY-TRUNK.

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Applicaticn filed m 15,

' salesmen for the transportation and display of their SitlllPlGQ tlli-Z equipment being adapt.-

ved for use in conheotionwith any particular line of goods and especially advantageous for the transportation and displaying re quirenients oi the lines of smallersized merchandise in which the range is generally large and varied in character.

- Travelers samples have, in mostinstances up to the present time, been packed in the to say the samples have been placed one upon the other in a more or less unrelated manner due to the exigenciesef size,,sliape andavailable space, While the confusion naturally resulting from this has been pars tially avoided by th provision of specially formed compartments or trays which stand- .ir-tlize to accrtain degree the order ofpack ing and positionoi samples, )resent arrangements continue inadequate for the securance of the desired rapid and comprehensivedis play without contusion, and the adaptability of the display forquick re-packing in -readi ness tor transportation, This inadequacy of cxistii arrangements is due in consider-- able extent a), the time expending necessity for piecemeal removal from thetrunk of either the samples themselves or the several compartments or trays containing them, their specialarrangement for most advantageous disposition determined by available surroundings each time a display is made at a different locatien and the subsequent piece-3 meal repaclring of the samples, the latter procedure possibly requiringmore time than their removal owing to the probable new cfcssity for particular arrangement in. ac

commodating them within the! available trunk space. c I In recognition of the "foregoing drawbacks in present arrangements for travelers .sa n pics, l have conccfled the idea of equip V Specification of Letters Batent. PatntedJ h 7 1921 1919. Serial 1164311071.

ping a trunk or the like, with an expanding sample supporting stand specially constructed to be readily-moved out ofor into the trunk, preferably without detachment rangement is to provide for a comprehensive dlsplay through the medium ofthe expandng standand furthermore to permit of the entire lineon view being handled as a whole either for removal, from or storage within the'trunlgthus without sacrifice to the coinpleteness of the display, eliminating the eX- cessive expenditure oi'itime and labor necessitated by arrangements at present in use, and affurther object of the invention is to co therefrom The object of this novel arprovide means wherebyfthetrunk is 0011-;

structed in such a form as to present a convenient displaying of garments or the like, such construction making-it possible to show the full length of thegarments or the like and at the same time supporting the trunk during the displaying thereof.

c f In the precise embodiment my invention J ordinary manner for transportation, that is K ture of the device, which latter with said constructional featureswill be hereinafter more fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. For full comprehension, however, of my invention reference should be-had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters indicate the same parts and whereinc Figure l is a perspective View of my improved'sample displaying device, illustrating ,the stand raised from; the. interior oi the trunk and partially e rpanded or opened to expose the samples fFig. .Zis a vertical section 011, line 2 2 Fig/lgfl v a v Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the trunk open and illustrating the stand in aised positionp; I r a Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail] perspective view of onecornerofthe trunk; c

' Fig, 5 is a side elevation of thestan l with a'hangerdevice as-adapted for the use of garment hangers; and a Fig; 61s a detail sectional view of the handle connection and shaft mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, 2 indicates a trunk which,;in so far as my invention is concernerhmay be of any desired dimensions to suit requirements. I The cover indicated at 3, is of the usual comparatively shallow box-like construction, hinged at 4 to the back of the trunk and provided with suitable fastening means 5 cooperating with a lock 6 at the front of the trunk to secure the cover in closed position.

The display stand consists preferably of an open rectangular frame comprising top and bottom pieces 7 and side pieces 8. This frame, which I prefer to form of inwardly facing angle irons suitably fastened together at the corners and braced as at S, is of such a depth as to be easily accommodated within the trunk in an upright position and of a width to be slidably located between the trunk ends. A series of sample supporting members such as vertically disposed panels 9 to be hereinafter more fully described, are suitably supported between the top and bottom pieces 7 and extend forwardly fron the frame, the panels being adapted to have the samples attached thereto permanei'itly in so far as successive showings of same are concerned. The extent of the panels is cetermined by requirements and the trunk is constructed of such a width from front to rear as to properly accommodate them.

The frame of the stand is located in the rear of the trunk and the panels, with the samples attached thereto, extend forwardly, both frame and panels supported thereby being adapted to be raised out of the trunk and lowered thereinto by means which will now be described.

A shaft 10 located within the cover near the front or free edge thereof, is rotatably mounted at its opposite ends in bearings 11 carried by the cover, one end of the shaft passing through one bearing and adapted to have a removable crank handle 12 fitted thereto whereby the shaft can be rotated. A preferred means of connecting the shaft and handle consists in forming a key-hole socket 18 in theend of the shaft for the reception of a correspondingly formed reduced end 1% of the handle. Flexible lengths 15 consisting of cable wire or the i like are attached at one of theirends to the shaft and at their opposite ends to the side frame pieces 8, this latter connection being preferably formed through the medium of eye-bolts 16 having screw-threaded connections with brackets 17 carried by the angle irons within the angles thereof, the bolts being bent to clear the inner edges of the side pieces. By winding the wires 15 upon shaft 10 the display stand is raised and upheld during the raising operation and when raised it will fall at an angle inclining to the rear of the trunk and, through such inclination, the panels will be free to swing clear of the top of the trunk and at the same time remain open when moved to the required position for display. The

shaft 10 as it is rotated to elevate the stand isheld against turning in the opposite direction by means of a ratchet 18, carried by the shaft, and a spring pawl 19 carried by the cover and engaging the ratchet, the stand being thus maintained in its elevated position.

Suitable means such as a chain 20 with a ring 21 is attached to the pawl to enable same to be disengaged from the ratchet and permit the stand being lowered into the trunk.

In order to brace the hinged cover against the weight of the stand, braces 22 are provided, these braces being rigid from end to end, pivoted at their upper ends to the interior of the cover and provided with eyes 23 at their lower ends. These eyes are adapted to be slipped over pins 24 extending inwardly from the ends of the trunk near the top, the rigid braces crossing over the cover hinge and upholding the cover. Adjustment in the length of the braces is provided for by making the eyes 23 in the form of eyebolts screwed to the lower ends of the braces which latter are bent inwardly for this purpose.

The rear interior corners of the trunk are provided "with vertical rails 25 to guide the upward and downward movements of the frame and through it, the stand as a whole,

the forward margins of the rails presenting projections or overhanging portions 26 which embrace the forwardly extending flanges of the frame and so form recesses therefor; The bottom frame piece is cut away at 27 to clear the projections 26. If desired ball bearings 27 or other suitable anti-friction devices can be mounted either on the rails or on the side pieces as shown to facilitate the movements of the stand.

The rails 25, combined with a centrally located vertical rubbing plate 28 carried by the rear of the trunk, guide the stand throughout from side to side and enable same to be moved up and down in a steady manner and as it is proposed to maintain the same within the rails when the frame is in its uppermost positicil. these rails at times brace and steady the stand. Vertical guide rods 29 anchored in the bottom of the trunk extend loosely through holes in the bottom pieces 7 of the frame and have enlarged upper ends 30 to so limit the upward movement of the stand as to hold the frame within its rails as just mentioned and maintain the stand as a component part of the trunk.

My invention contemplates constructing the display stand in such a manner that while the panels may be arranged in substantially close proximity to each other and so occupy a. relatively small space, they can when it is desired be moved or spread apart and when so opened out occupy a considerably greater space and expose a more example, when utilizing panels as'in'iny preferred construction, embodied herein, the panels would be pivoted at one of their ends to the frame so that theirinajor extent is capable of swinging through a considerable are from a close relation one with the other to a widely separated position. The stand is thus capable of adjustment from an ex-- panded position wherein it exposes extensive displaying surface to a contracted position occupying a considerably reduced space and providingfor convenient :and

mesh, burlap or the like and binding them with metal strips treat 81. With this con-1' structionthe inner or rear binding strips can be utilized to form, the pivotal connec-' tion between the panels and the frame by forming said strips to present eyes or sleeves 32'loosely embracingvertical' pivot or hinge" rods 33 carried by and extending between the top and bottom'frame'pieces 7 Each panel may be separately pivoted in the manner above described but as illustrated in the accompanying drawings thepanelsv are pivoted in pairs, the eyes or sleeves 32 of each panel of a pair being spaced: along the height of the panel, those of each stag-' gered with relation to the other and the eye slof both panels of thepair embracing the same red as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The idea of having the panels pivoted in pairs upon the standis that each pair may be opened or taken apart .to more easily mount the articles onthe outside and fasten them from the inside. of each'panel and when filled the panels are brought together and clamped by means of bolts or the like,

but I prefer to clamp or secure them toby the same belt that I use in securing the distance pieces hereinafter described in the panels. i' v The panel pivotrods 33 are each remov ably carried in holes 34 in and spaced longitudinally of the trams pieces 7, being upheld by a head 84 at the top and firmly fastened b a nut 34: at the bottom thus enabling the panels to be readily removed when des red. Furthermore thenumber of holes 34 in each of the frame pieces exceed the number of pivot rods employed and ,theretore permit the spacing of the rods be ing varied by their insertion into different holes, the holes and rods thus cooperating in establishing an adjustment in the spac-- from the spacingof same when swung upon their pivots; I

The display stand can if desired, be modilied as illustrated by Fig. 5' for the accom modation of'garments and in this construction "the panels are eliminated, the upper ends of the rods 33 extended forwardly at 33 and formed with eyes or hooks 33 upon which a garment hanger, indicated at 33 may be suspended. i

The height and position of the panels are such that when the stand/is raised to its I 'upper or displaying'position, their lower edges will be spaced above the upper edges of the trunk and be tree to swing'over the latter. pandedito a considerable extent'beyond the sides of the trunk by swinging the panels outwardly to opposite sides and exposing to View the full range of articles. A partial extension of the stand 1s illustrated by Fig. '1. i i

WVhen the stand is to be lowered into the trunk the panels are swung-into close proximit to each other the awl (llSGH iL T-Xl In this way the stand can be ex from the ratchet and the lowering of the" stand gradually effected through the control provided by the handle 12. Just pre- 7 vious to the entry of the lower edges of the panels nto the trunk, arms 36-p1voted to 0ppositeiiitei'ior sides of the trunk ends near the front and top thereof, are swung from an upwardly and outwardly extending position to an inwardly extending position bearing against the end panel to confine and guide the free ends of all the panels into the trunk, anti-friction rollers 37 being mount-' 'ed in vertical position on the ends of the arms 36. This preliminary concentration of the panels is supplemented 'when the stand approaches the bottom of the trunk,

by-meansof downwardly and inwardly in clined grinding surfaces at opposite sides of the trunk and near the bottom and front thereof. ='lhese surfaccs are presented by transversely disposed triangular blocks 38 which finally automatically close the panels and, with the arms 36 and arms 40 to be now between adjacentpanels'in order to avoid such close approach of one to the other as to permit contact of articles .upon opposing surfaces of the closing or closed panels. These distance pieces consist, for example,

wardly from the-panels inposition to enadjace'ntones, the arms being attached to the panels by bolt-and-nut fastenings 40 in order that they may bereadily IGIl1OV able to perm1t arms of varying lengths be arms similar to the beiorementioned arms l0 which are Ilglfl and extend outing used according to the spacing required between the panels for differently sized articles. Horizontally disposed, rubber mounted rollers ll are carri d by the outer ends of the arms to accommodate any slight relative movement of the panels and the boltand-nut fastenings 420 are also utilized for holding each pair of panels together as before suggested.

lVhile the capacity of the stand can be varied to suit different requirements, the combined superficial area of such number and size of panels as it may be desired to employ also the adaptability of the panels for intimate and compact packing within a small space, provide for considerably la ger and more conveniently utilized displaying facilities within a given compass than are offered by the present cumbersome arrangements.

When the stand is housed as above described, the handle 12 is removed and the cover closed by slipping the lower ends of the braces 22, inwardly from the pins 24 and lowering the cover over the panels and frame. The secure bracing of the stand which is obtained by the arms 36, 4:0 and blocks 38 is added to by so cons ructing the cover with a filler strip i5 along its rear inner-side that when it is closed it will bear down upon the top of the stand at the rear and prevent the possibility of upward shifting thereof. The shaft 10 bears upon the stand at front and constitutes the front bracing. The lower ends of the braces 22 slip down behind straps 4:8 carried by and extending between front and rear of the ends of the trunk about midway between top and bottom thereof, these straps confining the braces and securing same in position when the trunk is closed. 7

ltwill be apparent from the foregoing that with the samples attached to the panels, the complete assortment of articles comprising the display is capable of being handled as a whole both when it is desired to remove them from the trunl: for display purposes and when they are to be packed for transportation. Through the medium of this arrangement the Whole display can be very quickly removed from the trunk ai d by swinging open the panels spread into view and as speedily gathered together by closing the panels, ano. packed into the trunlr thus eliminating the necessity for a separate removal and subsequent packing of each article or tray of articles. Furthermore the expenditure of time and exercise of care to present the different articles in their most advanta- 'geous arrangement relatively to one antially fixed to the panels in the most suitable arrangement and handled in such arrangement as a whole for transportation between successive displays.

The construction of trunk I prefer to use as most suitable or adaptable. for my device consists in having the ends and front free of the bottom of the trunk, the front being divided vertically midway into two portions 50 and 51, each half portion being formed integral with either one of the ends 52 and 8 while the rear of the trunk adj ac t to the corners 5a is provided with ordinay hinges 55 adapted to have such ends secured thereon. lVhen the articles are being displayed the hinged ends with their respective front half portions 50 and 53 will be swung open to the rear of the trunk and the bottom 56 of each end will bear upon the floor or the like d actas a support for the stand. During transportation the ends and front half of the trunk are swung into place and securedv to their respective parts and connected by any suitable fastening devices 57 and 58.

l -Jhat I claim is as follows:

1. In combination, a trunk having a hinged cover, a display stand including a frame normally located within the trunk and capable of supporting sample articles, a shaft rotatably mounted at its ends in the sides of the cover near the free end of the latter, a flexible length attached to each side of the frame and to the shaft and adapted, after the co er has been raised, to be wound upon the shaft to elevate the stand, independently of any movement of the cover, means for rotating the shaft in one direction and means to temporarily prevent its turning in the opposite direction.

2. In combination, trunk, a display stand including a rigid frame, such stand being normally located within the trunk and capable of supporting sa nple articles and adapted to be raised from the confines of the trunk, the frame being rigidly formed of top, bottom and side bar portions and occupying a limited vertical space at the rear ofthe trunk only, the bottom bar portion having perforations to accommodate guide rods and vertical guide rods passing through said perforations, anchored in the bottom of the trunk and serving to limit the upward movement of he stand.

3. In con'ibination a trunk, a stand including a series of relatively movable panels adapted to be moved from a position close to one another, to a more widely separated position, said stand being located within the trunk, mechanism. for raising and lowering the stand out of and into the interior of the trunk and means for automatically guiding the panels into their close position one with the other as they are being lowered into the trunk and for maintaining such position when the panels trunk.

4. In combination, a trunk, a stand located within the trunk and including a series of relatively movable sample supportare housed within the and adapted to engage and preliminarilyelose the'pan'els one upon the other during the initial loweringinovement 0f the stand" into the trunk and guiding devices'located near the bottom of the trunlr'and adapted to finally close the panels one upon the other during the final lowering movement ofthe stand into the trunk. U p

6. In combination, a trunk, a sample sup porting stand located within the trunk and;

including a series of pivoted panels, means for raising and lowering the stand out of and into the interior of the trunk, movable guiding devices located near the top of the trunk and adapted to engage andprelimig narily close the panels one upon the other during the initial lowering movement of the stand into the-trunk and stationary guiding devices located near the bottom of the trunk and adapted to finally close the" panels one upon the other during the final lowering movement of-thefstand into the trunk. Y 1 e 1i 7. In combination, a trunk, a sample sup porting stand located within the trunk and including a series of pivoted panels, means including a shaft arranged within thejcover, for raisin and lowering the stand out of and into the interior o'l the trunk, steadyin'g devices projecting inwardly rom i'the ends of the trunk adapted to engage and bean upon opposite sides of the lowered panelsfw near the top'and bottom edges thereof, an additional. 'steadying device located within the coverat the rear thereot adapted to engage and bear upon the rear top'edges of the lowered panels, and the said shaft being also adapted to engage and bear upongthe front top edges of the loweredpanels 8. In combinatiomja trunk, a d splay stand located within the trunk, such stand including a frame and a'series of panels pivoted to the frame, the latter being rigidly; formed of top, bottom and' side bar portions and occupying a lim ted vertical space at the rear of the trunk onlyymeans' for raising and lowering the' frame, and vertical guide rails fitted Within the :rear

ing members, mechanism for moving the stand into and out of the interior of the trunk and means for automatically moving mallyloeated within the trunk and capable of i in the trunk the ends of the the stand, such bracin,

corners of the trunkfor theguidance ofthe frame inthe upward andjdownward movement thereof, a portion ofsuch rails overhanging the sidesot the frame and the lower, side or flange of the frame being notched to accommodate such overhanging portions of the rails. I g V V p 9. A displaystand consisting of a frame, a series of rods supported at their ends in the top and bottom otthe frame and panels mounted upon the rods toswing with relationto ea'ohother, each panel'presenting eyes formed along its rear edge and adapted withanother panel to form a pair the eyes of which embrace one rod common to the two panels; spacing devices carried by and projecting 10111 one side of each pair of panels with means servingboth to attach the spacing devices to the pair of panels and also hold together thetwo panelscom stitiiting the pair. I i lObAidisplay stand consisting ofatrame,

a seriesof rods supported at their ends in 1 "eyes of which embrace one rod common to the two panels; spacing devices consisting of an arm and 'roller'carried by and proje'cting'froni one side of each pair of panels 1 withbolt and nut serving both to attach the spacing devices'to the pair of panels and also hold together the two panels const tut pg' the pair,

di stand including a: frame norsiipporting samplearticles, a shaft rotatablymounted at its ends in the sides of the c er near the free end ofthe latter, a

ohlength att ched toeach side'oi the frame cover" h as been-raised, be wound upon the shatt to elevate the stand, independently Jits: turning the and a device for bracing I raised position to sustain ght efthe stand, I I

display stand located withns extending inwardly from trunk a the trunk cover aud adapted, after the cover has been raised,-to elevate and lower stand out of and, iito the trunk,

' a device for maintaining the I stand in its brac ng the theweight of v ed osition" and a dcvic en u 'to" sustain gr device including braces which are rigid. throughout" their {length-and pivoted at their upper endsto and "to "the shaft and adaptedyafter runk,v mechanism mounted thetop and bottom of-the-frameand panels mounted upon the rods to swing with'relafltioii to each' other, each p'anelfpresenting eyesiformedI-along itsvrear edge and adapt-' red with another panel to form a pair the combination, a trunk having a hinged novement ofthe cover, means for "shaft in one d rection, means n combination, atrunlnacover hinged ing a time located within the trunk and inechan: n mounted in the trunk cover and adapted, when the cover is raised, to elerate and lower the display stand out of and into the trunk, such mechanism including a shaft rotatably mounted at its ends in the sides of the cover near the free end of the latter, a flexible length attached to ach side of the frame and to the shaft and adapted to be wound upon the latter, a handle detaohably secured to one end of the shaft, a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted upon the shaft, a spring pawl carried by the cover and engaging the teeth of the ratchet and flexible length attached to the pawl whereby the latter can be disengaged from the ratchet wheel.

14. In combination, a trunk, 21. cover hinged to the trunk, vertical rails disposed adjacent the rear corners of the trunk, a display stand including a frame arranged vertically between said rails, panels pivoted to the frame and extending therefrom forwardly toward the front of the trunk, arms pivoted to the opposite interior ends of the trunk near the top and adapted to be moved to engage the end panels, blocks located at opposite sides of the bottom of the trunk near the front thereof and presenting clownwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces adapted to engage the end panels, a shaft rotatably mounted at its ends in the cover of the trunk near the free edge thereof, fleXi ble lengths attached to said shaft and frame of the stand and adapted to be wound upon the former to raise the stand, a handle removably attached to one end of the shaft, a

ratchet wheel rigidly mounted upon the shaft, a pawl'engaging the ratchet teeth and braces for the cover.

15. In combination, a trunk, a cover hinged to the trunk, vertical rails disposed adjacent the rear corners of the trunk, a vertically arranged plate carried by the rear of the trunk between said rails, pins extending inwardly from the ends of the trunk, a display stand presenting holes in the bottom thereof and including a frame arranged vertically between said rails and guided thereby and by said plate, panels pivoted to the frame and extending therefrom for wardly toward the front of the trunk, rigid arms carried by and extending outwardly from the panels near their free ends and adapted to limit the approach of the panels toward each other, arms pivoted to the opposite interior ends of the trunk near the top and adapted to be moved to engage the end panels, blocks located at opposite sides of the bottom of the trunk near the front thereof and presenting downwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces adapted to engage the end panels, a shaft rotatably mounted at its ends in the cover of thetrunk near the free edge thereof, flexible lengths attached to said shaft and frame of the stand and adapted to be wound upon the former to raise the stand, vertically arranged rods anchored to the bottom of the trunk, located in the holes in the bottom of the frame and presenting enlarged upper ends limiting the upward movement'of the stand, a handle reniova-bly attached to one end of the shaft, a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted upon the shaft, a pawl engaging the ratchet teeth, braces pivotally attached at their upper ends to the cover and presenting eyes at their lower ends adapted to be slipped over said pins, straps attached to the interior surfaces of the trunk and extending from front to rear thereof in position to receive said braces when the cover is closed and a strip filling in the hinged corner of the cover and adapt ed to bear upon the top of the display stand when the cover is closed.

16. In combination, a trunk, a cover hinged to the trunk, movable ends hinged to the back of he trunk, the front being adapt ed to, have each half movable with the ends thereof, a display stand located within the trunk, pins xtending inwardly from the ends of the trunk, mechanism mounted in the trunk cover and adapted when the cover is raised, to elevate and lower the display stand out of and into the trunk, adevice for maintaining the stand in its raised position and a devicef-or bracing the cover in its raised position to sustain the weight of the stand.

'17. In combination, a trunk, a cover hinged to the trunk, movable ends hinged to the back of the trunk, a divided front adapted to have each half rigid with the ends and movable therewith, such ends and front halves being free of the bottom of the trunk, and each end and half being adapted to swing to a position in rear of the trunk and in line with the open ends thereof, means for locking the lower ends of said ends and front halves to the bottom of the trunk and adjacent edges of the front halves together, a display stand located within the trunk, pins extending inwardly from the ends of the trunk, mechanism mounted in the trunk cover and adapted, when the cover is raised to elevate and lower the display stand out of and into the trunk, a device for maintaining the stand in its raised position and a device for bracing the cover in its raised-position to sustain the weight of the stand.

THOMAS BELAIR. 

